Staple feed magazine



A. G. JUlLFs 2,781,515

STAPLE FEED MAGAZINE Feb. 19, 1957 Filed March 30, 1953 Eval.

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United States Patent firice STAPLE FEED MAGAZINE Albert G. Juilfs,Newtown, Ohio, assigner to Senco Products, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, acorporation of ho Application March 30, 1953, Serial No. 345,490

9 Claims. (Cl. 1-49) My invention relates to an improved magazine forfeeding staples into position before a staple driver and is particularlyadapted for use with narrow crown staples.

It is an object of my invention to provide a staple magazine which, sizefor size, is capable of holding a larger number of staples thanmagazines heretofore developed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a magazine capable ofholding a supply of narrow crown staples.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a magazine having aguide surface adjacent the crowns of the staples, said surface havingmeans projecting within the body of the staple gun to a position llushwith the bottom of the track in which the staple driver rides and intowhich track the staples are to be fed from the magazine. This feature isa specific application of the teachings of my Patent No. 2,585,942 to amagazine for feeding narrow crown staples, the said patent showing thegeneral teaching in connection with the magazine for feeding broad crownstaples.

Another object of my invention is to provide means within the magazinefor feeding the staples evenly therefrom into position to be driven bythe staple driver.

Another object of my invention is to provide a slidable cover havingmeans to insure that the staples placed within the magazinearevuniformly disposed about the bar on which they ride. This same meanswill prevent the closure means from being jammed or held up by a 4staplewhich is not llush with the other staples and which may not have beenforced all the way down on the bar.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following description andwith the reference to the :accompanying drawings in which drawings likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same and inwhich: Y

Figure 1 is a plan view of the magazine of this invention, with thecover not quite in its home position of closure,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the magazine of Figure l,

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the forward end of thecover or closure means employed with my magazine,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 7-7 ofFigure 6,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the pusher or follower employed withthe magazine,

Figure 9 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the magazine inoperative position with respect to'a device for driving the staples, and

Figure l0 is a section taken on the line lil- 10 of Figure 9. Y

Patented Feb. 19, 1957 0 position as indicated at 16 but it will beunderstood that any suitablemeans for arranging the bar 14 within theopening 13 may be employed.

The top closure for the opening 13 defined by the members 1t), 11 and 12-is indicated at 17. This closure means, cover or door is slidablewithin a pair of slots 18 formed in the members 10 and 11. The front endof the door or cover 17 is provided with a projecting tit 19. Theunderside of this tit 19 is beveled as indicated at 20 in Figure A7. Theimportance of this structure will be explained in greater detailshortly.

The door 17 is provided with a longitudinal slot 21.

and with a finger grip portion 22. As is best seen in Figure 1, the bar14 projects beyond the ends of the members 10, 11 and 12, as indicatedat 14a, a distance correspond-ing to the projecting tit 19 of the cover17.

As best seen in Figures l and 5, a pin 23 is secured within the sides 10and 11 at one end of the magazine, the pin passing through the bar 14.As shown in Figure 5 this pin may simply be screwed into the magazinevsection as illustrated at 24. At the other or forward end of themagazine section I provide a pair of pulleys 25. These are best seen inFigures l and 3. It wil be understood that the pulleys 25 are freelyrotatable within the opening 13.

A staple follower or pusher 26 rides on the bar 14 behind the strip ofstaples 15. This follower is best seen in Figure 8 and will be seen tohave a pair of ears 27 extending from the rear thereof. This follower isU- shaped in cross-section and has a button 28 projecting from the topthereof. This button 28 rides within the slot 21 of the cover when theparts are in their operative positions.

Within the opening 13 are provided springs 29. Each of the two springs29 has one end xed to the pin 23. Each spring then travels around one ofthe pulleys 25 and is fastened to one of the ears 27 of the follower 26.When the follower 26 is placed upon the bar 14, and the springs 29attached in the manner just described, it will be observed that staplesplaced about the bar 14 ahead of the follower 26 will be constantlyurged toward the forward end of the magazine.

Means are also provided to maintain the cover or door 17 in either afull closed position or a full open position. To thisV end I provide aboss 30 at the rear end of the magazine. Within this boss 30 there isprovided a bore 31. A member 32 is slidable Within this bore. The memberhas a button. 33 on its upper end which projects above the boss 30. Themember 32 is recessed to receive a spring 34. A plug 35 forms a bottomrest for this spring. In this manner the member 32 is urged upwardly.The cover 17 is provided with a pair of indentations 36, one located atthe forward end thereof and the other at the rear end. The bore 31 is solocated that the member 32 extends slightly beneath the slot 1S in whichthe cover 17 is slidably positioned.

When the cover 17 is so moved that either of the inden tations 36 yis inregistry with the Imember 32, such member will be forced upwardly withinthe bo-re and will engage within the indentation. This prevents furthermovement ofthe door 17. To release this catch one simply presses thebutton 33 so as to move the member 32 from engagement within theindentation. By these means I am able to secure the cover in either afull-closed position or a full-open position as desired. i v

In this magazine it will be observed that the members 10 and 11 are solocated as to provide an opening 13 large enough to accommodate thepulleys 25A and the bar 14 lso thatvtlie staples 15 and follower 26 maystraddle such bar without interference'. V l I l To load the magazine,the cover 17 is pulled backl until the indentation 36 adjacent the tit19 registers with the member 32. This will hold the cover 17 in its`full yopen position. When the cover `17 yis pulled in this manner theportion 37 thereof, dened bythe slot 21, engages the button 2S of thefollower- 26 and causes the follower to be pulled toward the rear end1of theY magazine against the resistance of the springs 29. The opening13 and bar 14- being thus exposed, a strip of staples 15 is placed aboutthe bar 14 ahead of the follower 26. l The button 33 is then depressedand the cover 17 forcedto its home position `of closure as defined bythe indentation 36 adjacent the linger portion 22. Because the button 28is slidable within the slot 21, the cover 17 may move independently ofthe follower 26. rThis follower will be brought adjacent the last stapleof the strip by reason of the action of the springs 29.

Another feature of my invention resides in that con struction whichprevents the cover 17 being accidentally pulled completely from themagazine. Thus, should the member 32 fail to register with theindentation 36, the cover will nevertheless be stopped so that theoperator cannot pull it free of the magazine. This is accomplished byreason of the fact that the follower 26 will abut against the pin 23.When the follower 26 is stopped by the pin 23, further movement of thecover 17 is impossible for the reason that the button 28 will be engagedby the portion 37 defined by the slot 21. The follower 26 and its button28, therefore, prevent the cover from being pulled free of the magazineeven though the member 32 should fail to register in the properindentation 36.

It is a feature of my invention that if after a strip of staples hasbeen placed upon the bar 14 there is `a staple or so which does not haveits crown liush with the top of the bar 14, the beveled portion 20 ofthe tit 19 will engage any staple rising above the top plane of thestrip of staples and force it into proper position. Were it not for thebeveled portion 2Q of the tit 19 it is likely that the forward end ofthis tit would simply engage such a mispositioned stapie and the coverbe prevented from Vfurther movement. By my arrangement, however, suchstaple is forced to its proper position and the cover may be, slid toits own position of closure easily.

The forward end of my staple magazine, generally indicated at 38, isadapted to abut the body of the staple gun or similar means for drivinga'staple. In Figures 9 and kl() I have generally indicated the portionof the gun against which the magazine will abut at 39. Another f member40 of this staple driving means cooperates with the member 39 to form atrack or slot 41 in which a staple driver 42 will reciprocate. The bodyof the staple 'gun orsimilar means is provided with Van openrngh whichleads to track or Yslot 41. it is `through this opening that the staplespass from the magazine into position within the track or slot 41 beforethe driver' 42. n

The larrangement of the magazine of my invention is such that theforward end 38 thereof abuts the gun or driving means as representedrbythe member 39. 1n my arrangement, however, Athe bar 14 projects beyondthe end 38 as indicated at 14a so that it extends within the opening 43to a position ush with the bottom of the track or slot 41. Similarly,the tit 145 of the cover 17 extends through the opening Li3 to aposition flush with the bottom of the slot or track 41. The normalarrangement is to have the cover 17 abut the member 39 in the samemanner as the end 38 of the feed magazine.

This would create a crack. beneath which the staples would have to passin order to reach the slot or trackY 4 1; Depending on how accuratelythe parts were machined and also on the amount and type of use to whichthe device was subjected, this crack would vary in size. It is possiblethat staples would rise up within this crack and cause jamming. By myarrangement, however, the cover 17 as represented by the tit 19, extendsto the very place at which a staple is picked up by the driver 42. Thismeans that the area adjacent the crowns of the strip of staples isuninterrupted by any crevice or the like. In this way I haye eliminatedmuch of the jam; mir'ig difliculties normally associated with staplingdevices of this general type.

In order to insure that the last staple of the strip is positivelypositioned within the slot 41, it will be observed that the distancebetween the forward part of the button 2E and the forward end of thefollower 26 is the same as the distance between the end of the tit 19and the area 37 of the cover 17. Thus', when the button 28 engages "theportion 37 the end of the follower 26 will be tiush with the end 14a ofthe bar 14 and the tit 19 of the cover 17. y v

It will also be observed that the slots 1S in the menibers 10 and 11 areso located that the cover 17 just clears the top of the staples placedabout the bar 14. In this way the cover or door 17 serves as an upperguide sur# face `for the crowns of the staples and prevents bucklingwhich might otherwise occur due to the force of the spring 29. It shouldbe observed, see especially Figure 4, that the slot 21 Vin the cover 17is not so wide as to permit the crowns of the staples to ridetherethrough.

It will be understood that when the cover is pulled to its full openposition, Vthe opening 13 and bar 14 will be exposed and there will besufficient room to simply -place the strip of staples 15 about the bar.As described the follower 26 will be pulled out of the way by engagementof the portion 37 with the button 2S. It will also be observed that theslot 21, in addition to providing a suitable guide for the button 28 ofthe follower 26, enables the operator to determine at a glance how manystaples are within the magazine. l

It will also be understood that while I have described my invention asembodied in certain specific structure, I do not intend to be limited tosuch structure except insofar as it is specifically set forth in thesub-joined claims. Obviously modications may bermade in this structurewithout departing from the scope and spirit of myrinvention. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as' new and what Idesire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A staple magazine and feed structure for use with a stapling machine,said structure comprising a housing, a staple support bar fixed wtihinsaid housing and arranged to slidably retain a strip of staples thereon,a follower slidable on' said support bar for Vpushing 'said strip ofstaples in a forwardly direction on said support bar, a cover membermounted in said housing over said support bar and Slidable in a rearwarddirection to expose said support bar, and means for biasing saidfollower on said support bar in a forwardly direction, saidlastmentioned means comprising a pair of extensible spring members eachhaving one end spaced from said cover member and fixed within one end ofsaid housing and a pair of pulleys spaced from said cover member andfixed within the other end of said housing, said support bar extendingbetween said pulleys and said springs extending forwardly from adjacentthe rear end of said housing around said pulleys and being connected attheir other ends to said follower.

2. The magazine and feed structure of claim 1 in which said cover memberhas a portion thereof projecting beyond the forward end of saidstructure when closed,

of the drive track into which staples are fed by said structure.

3. The magazine and feed structure of claim 2 in which said projectingportion is beveled on its under side whereby the cover may easily beslid over staples which are not in proper depressed position on saidsupport bar.

4. The magazine and feed structure of claim l in which said support barextends beyond the end of said structure so as to pass through anopening in said stapling machine to a position ush with the bottom ofthe drive track into which staples are pushed by said follower.

5. The magazine and feed structure of claim 4 in which said cover memberis provided with a slot intermediate its ends, said follower having atab slidable in said slot, the distance between the front of said taband the forward end of said follower being the same as the distancebetween the forward end of said slot and the forward end of said supportbar when said cover member is closed.

6. A staple magazine and feed structure `comprising a base member havingupstanding sides, a lstaple support bar fixed to `said base member, acover member slidable in said upstanding `sides to expose said bar, apair of pulleys each supported from a said side member at either side ofsaid support bar and spaced from said support bar and from said cover,anchor means in said side members at either `side of `said bar andspaced from said cover, a staple follower slidable on 'said bar, and apair of Vsprings each attached at one end to said anchor means yand atthe other end to said follower, said springs lying on either side ofsaid support bar and each spring passing over a said pulley, wherebysaid follower i-s urged 4along `said bar.

7. In a stapling machine a staple magazine and feed structure comprisinga base having upstanding iside members, a stable support bar on saidbase, a cover slidable in said -side members above said support bar,said support bar being arranged to retain lslidably a strip of staplesthereon, a follower slidable on said support bar for pushing said Istripof staples in a forwardly direction on said lsupport bar, and means forbiasing said follower on Isaid support har in a forwardly directioncomprising a pair of pulley members fixed within Isaid housing adjacentthe front end of said support bar one on either side thereof and spacedlfrom `said cover, each of said pulley members lying in a plane vspacedtransversely of `the plane of said support bar, a pair of extensiblespring members each anchored at one end within said housing adjacent therear end of said support bar one on either side thereof and spaced fromvsaid cover, each Isaid spring means extending forwardly from said`anchored end around a said pulley member and secured at its oppositeend to said f-ollower.

8. A staple magazine and feed structure comprising a base havingupstanding Isides integral therewith, a cover slidable in lslotsprovided in `said sides, a staple `support; bar xed to said base beneathsaid Vcover and between said sides, a `staple follower slidable on saidbar, pin means in said sides at the rear end of rsaid structure, a pairof pulleys at the `forward end of said structure one on either side ofsaid bar, said pulleys being mounted on lsaid sides, and a pair ofsprings one on either -side of said bar, each spring being fastened atone end to said pin means, passed around a said pulley, and fastened atits other end to said follower.

9. The device `of claim 8 in which said cover is slidable between anopen and `closed position and including detent mean-s to hold itreleasably in either position, said cover and follower havingcooperating abutmcnts by which the follower is pulled to the rear ofIsaid bar when said cover is moved `to its open position whereby staplesmay be placed on said bar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,585,942 Juilfs Feb. 19, 1952

